Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 9
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
शक्तुगोधूमलाजाश् च यवशालिमसूरकाः सकुष्ठचणका मुद्गा भक्ष्या गोधूमका हिताः
śaktugodhūmalājāś ca yavaśālimasūrakāḥ sakuṣṭhacaṇakā mudgā bhakṣyā godhūmakā hitāḥ
สักตุ (แป้งคั่ว), ข้าวสาลี และลาชะ (ข้าวพอง), รวมทั้งข้าวบาร์เลย์ ข้าวศาลี และถั่วมสูระ; ถั่วชิกพี (จณกะ) ที่ปรุงร่วมกับกุษฐะ และถั่วเขียว (มุทคะ)—ล้วนเป็นของควรบริโภค อาหารที่ทำจากข้าวสาลีเป็นประโยชน์
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Pathya food list emphasizing light grains and legumes (saktu, godhūma, lāja, yava, śāli, masūra, mudga) and medicated chickpea with kuṣṭha; guidance for convalescence/fever-like states.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pathya-Ahāra: Saktu–Godhūma–Lāja and Yava–Śāli–Mudga (with Kuṣṭha)","lookup_keywords":["pathya","saktu","godhuma","laja","mudga"],"quick_summary":"Wholesome edibles include parched flour, wheat, puffed rice, barley, rice, and select legumes; wheat-based preparations are noted as beneficial when appropriately prepared."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Āhāra as foundational therapy: correct food selection sustains agni and prevents relapse.
Application: Household and clinical diet planning aligned with pathya principles.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Ahara-vidhi / Pathya-Apathya: dietary guidance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A neat display of recommended foods—parched flour, wheat breads, puffed rice, barley and rice, bowls of lentils and green gram; a small mortar with kuṣṭha for medicating chickpeas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, still-life arrangement of grains and legumes in traditional vessels, vaidya pointing to pathya list, subdued temple-kitchen setting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished brass plates with saktu, lāja, yava, śāli, mudga; kuṣṭha shown as aromatic root; symmetrical devotional still-life","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional chart-like composition with each food item clearly rendered and separated; physician figure indicating ‘hitāḥ’ (beneficial) wheat-based foods","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, pantry scene with labeled jars of grains and pulses, attendant grinding kuṣṭha, refined detailing of textures (puffed rice, flour, lentils)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: lājāḥ+ca → लाजाश्च. Multi-item food lists treated as dvandva compounds: शक्तु-गोधूम-लाजाः; यव-शालि-मसूरकाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: pathya-apathya enumerations near 278; Agni Purana jvara and śodhana aftercare diet passages
FAQs
Ayurvedic āhāra-vidyā: it lists specific grains and legumes (saktu, wheat, puffed rice, barley, rice, lentils, chickpea, green gram) and notes their suitability as wholesome foods, including the use of kuṣṭha (costus) as a medicinal additive.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical health knowledge by cataloging dietetics—what foods are considered pathya (beneficial)—thereby functioning as a compendium that includes Ayurveda alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Following pathya (wholesome) diet is traditionally treated as a support for bodily purity and steadiness of mind, which in turn aids dharma-practice, self-control, and the capacity to perform ritual and daily duties without impediment.